Hamzah emphasized that coastal area development is a priority given that some of these areas are still dominated by slum settlements and inadequate sanitation.
"The President said we will build 1 million houses on the coast. Meanwhile, of the approximately 12,870 coastal villages, coastal areas are generally identified as slums," the deputy minister said in an official statement received here on Friday.
Therefore, the area is also a source of pollution and one of the areas considered unhealthy.
Hamzah explained that the arrangement of residential areas must be carried out in an integrated manner through collaboration between policies, institutions, programs, and spending.
The deputy minister met with representatives from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) to discuss opportunities for collaboration in the development of coastal residential areas.
This collaboration is expected to become a model for sustainable coastal development and can improve the quality of life of fishing communities while preserving local wisdom.
In the meantime, Acting Director General of Capture Fisheries at the KKP Ministry, Ridwan Mulyana, conveyed the ministry’s commitment to supporting the program.
"We will jointly identify and survey locations, strengthen the legal basis, such as technical guidelines, and ensure that area development is not only for fishermen but also for other coastal communities," Mulyana said.
"The challenge lies in budget spending, but we very much welcome this plan," he added.
The Ministry of PKP, through the Directorate General of Settlement Areas, has prepared a housing improvement program in the coastal areas through the Self-Help Housing Stimulant Assistance Program (BSPS).
The Director General of Settlement Areas at the Ministry of PKP, Fitrah Nur, said that building or improving the quality of houses in coastal areas is one of the priority programs.
The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries is ready to collaborate with the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries and the Ministry of Tourism to develop fishing areas into residential areas and future tourist destinations.
Hamzah even said that Indonesia has the potential to create "13,000 new Maldives" along the Indonesian coastline.
This is a strong reason for the government to develop coastal housing that is integrated with the maritime economic and tourism ecosystem.
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Translator: Aji Cakti, Katriana
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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